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From: mikel@codas.UUCP (Mikel Manitius)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Why not paint the shuttles in individual colour schemes?
Message-ID: <175@codas.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 8-Oct-85 22:12:02 EDT
Article-I.D.: codas.175
Posted: Tue Oct  8 22:12:02 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Oct-85 06:03:28 EDT
References: <2603@watcgl.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems (SDSS) - Orlando
Lines: 23

> 
> It occurred to me while watching the maiden launch of Atlantis that
> most shuttle launches look very similar.  Why not paint each shuttle
> in some sort of a distinctive scheme that you could spot from a
> long distance?

There is a good reason for not putting too much paint on the shuttles,
for one, all the tiles are white, could you imagine what a jig-saw
puzzle it would be if you had to match the right color, not just the
right shape and size?

Being close to the space center (~50miles), I have been there several
times. On one of the tours, they explain why the main booster tank
used to be white, and is now red - it's natural color: by not painting
it, they saved several tons in weight (the paint alone) and thusly can
carry a larger payload.
-- 
                                        =======
     Mikel Manitius                   ==----=====    AT&T
     (305) 869-2462 RNX: 755         ==------=====   Information Systems 
     ...{akguc|ihnp4}!codas!mikel    ===----======   SDSS Regional Support
     ...attmail!mmanitius             ===========    Altamonte Springs, FL
     My opinions are my own.            =======